Method and apparatus for the anonymized image acquisition in an industrial plant

Abstract

A method for the anonymized image acquisition in an industrial plant, comprising acquiring an image, wherein the image comprises an optoelectronically readable code and a personal feature; identifying the personal feature in the image; and obscuring the personal feature in the image.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for the anonymized image acquisition in an industrial plant, comprising the steps:
 acquiring an image of a part of an industrial plant, wherein the image comprises an optoelectronically readable code and a personal feature; 
 identifying the personal feature in the image; 
 obscuring the personal feature in the image; and 
 storing or transmitting the image with the obscured personal feature or reading out the optoelectronically readable code. 
 
     
     
       2. The method in accordance with  the preceding claim 1 , wherein the identifying comprises segmenting the personal feature in the image. 
     
     
       3. The method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the identifying and/or the segmenting takes/take place by means of a neural network. 
     
     
       4. The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the obscuring comprises pixelating the personal feature in the image. 
     
     
       5. The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the obscuring comprises removing the personal feature from the image. 
     
     
       6. The method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the step:
 reading out the optoelectronically readable code. 
 
     
     
       7. The method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the step:
 storing the image with the obscured personal feature. 
 
     
     
       8. The method in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the storing of the image comprises a transmission to a remote memory unit. 
     
     
       9. The method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the step:
 cropping the image to a part region comprising the optoelectronically readable code. 
 
     
     
       10. The method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the steps:
 encrypting the acquired image; 
 transmitting the acquired image to a remote processing unit; and 
 decrypting the acquired image at the remote processing unit. 
 
     
     
       11. The method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the identifying and/or the segmenting takes/take place at the remote processing unit. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus for the anonymized image acquisition in an industrial plant, comprising:
 an image acquisition unit that is configured to acquire an image of a part of an industrial plant, 
 wherein the image comprises an optoelectronically readable code and a personal feature; 
 a memory unit that is configured to store the acquired image; 
 a processing unit that is configured to identify the personal feature in the image and to obscure the personal feature in the image; and 
 an output unit storing or transmitting the image with the obscured personal feature or reading out the optoelectronically readable code.